2of2National Basketball Commissioner Adam Silver talks to the media before the Golden State Warriors play the Sacramento Kings in an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, STF

NEW YORK - NBA commissioner Adam Silver sounded more confident than ever about cutting down back-to-backs and virtually eliminating stretches of teams' schedules with four games in five nights.

He was less optimistic about changes in the draft lottery, playoff bracket or planned increase of the salary cap he hoped to phase in but had been rejected by the players' association Friday.

Silver, in his second All-Star media session as commissioner, sounded as if he has made progress on the schedule changes, with TNT and ESPN/ABC open to allowing more games on their exclusive Thursday and Sunday afternoon windows to open more days for games. He said there also is potential to cut back on the number of preseason games, if not the length of training camp itself.

"One of the things we're hoping to address, even for next season, is to come close as we can to eliminating the four games out of five nights," Silver said. "It's a math formula at the end of the day in terms of the number of days in the season and the number of games we play, but we think we can make a dramatic reduction there.

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Rosters

Eastern Conference

Starters

Carmelo Anthony New York F

Pau Gasol Chicago F

LeBron James Cleveland F

Kyle Lowry Toronto G

John Wall Washington G

Reserves

Chris Bosh Miami F-C

Jimmy Butler Chicago G-F

Al Horford Atlanta F-C

Kyrie Irving Cleveland G

Kyle Korver Atlanta G

Paul Millsap Atlanta F

Jeff Teague Atlanta G

Western Conference

Starters*

Stephen Curry Golden State G

Marc Gasol Memphis C

James Harden Houston G

Klay Thompson Golden State G

Reserves

LaMarcus Aldridge Portland F

DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento F

Tim Duncan San Antonio F

Kevin Durant Oklahoma City F

Damian Lillard Portland G

Dirk Nowitzki Dallas F

Chris Paul L.A. Clippers G

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City G

*-One starting spot to be determined

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"We're also very focused on the back-to-backs. There once again it's a function of numbers of days in the schedule and numbers of games we want to play. But I think we can make a dramatic impact there. That may take more than one season."

Silver was less certain about how to address the imbalance of the league, with two Eastern Conference teams with losing records in position to make the playoffs. But Silver said he was concerned with the "wear and tear" of extra travel he is trying to reduce with schedule changes.

"If there was a simple solution, we would have made it long ago," Silver said. "I understand the notion that we should have the absolute 16 best teams competing in the playoffs seemingly regardless of conferences and divisions. I am a believer, though, in the conference and the division system."

Silver said the league will revisit ideas to change the draft lottery system. Getting his preferred "smoothing" of the salary-cap increase could be even more difficult, though the player would be guaranteed 51 percent of revenue whether the cap makes gradual increases or jumps all at once in 2016.

"That's something we presented to the union," Silver said. "Ultimately it's up to them to decide what is in the interest of the Players' Association. I have a feeling there will be additional discussions."

Aldridge likelyto start for West

With Pelicans forward Anthony Davis out with a sprained shoulder, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is expected to start Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge in the All-Star Game, the third change to the Western Conference lineup selected in the fans' vote.

Kerr previously had named James Harden and Klay Thompson to replace Kobe Bryant and Blake Griffin as starters. NBA commissioner Adam Silver named Damion Lillard, DeMarcus Cousins and Dirk Nowitzki as additions to the roster.

Harden's goal isto show off a step

Though Rockets guard James Harden has been one of the NBA's top stars heading into the break, leading the league in scoring and earning mention as an MVP candidate, he will not approach the All-Star Game as a chance to validate the acclaim.

But there is something he would like to do in his third All-Star appearance.

"It's just about having fun, having fun and enjoying myself," Harden said. "I'm not going to try to go out and do something crazy or put too much pressure on myself.

"I'd like to do a Eurostep or a step-back. One of those has to happen. I haven't decided which one yet."

Mutombo amongfinalists for Hall

Five seasons after Dikembe Mutombo retired as a Rockets player, he was thrilled to learn Saturday that he is one of nine first-time finalists considered for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

"To me, it's like a dream come true," Mutombo said. "I didn't think about it until about two weeks ago."

The other first-time finalists are 39-year NBA referee Dick Bavetta; Kentucky coach John Calipari; former Rockets, Celtics and Cavaliers coach Bill Fitch; former Fort Worth Dunbar coach Robert Hughes, the winningest coach in high school basketball history; Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan; former Celtics guard Jo Jo White; former high school coach Leta Andrews; and former WNBA and Olympics star Lisa Leslie

Former Heat and Warriors guard Tim Hardaway, former SuperSonics and Knicks forward Spencer Haywood and former Suns guard Kevin Johnson are repeat finalists.

The direct-select Hall of Famers are former University of Kentucky and ABA star Louie Dampier, Australian coach Lindsay Gaze, former Celtics coach Tom Heinsohn (already in as a player), New York Rens star John Isaacs and former college coach George Raveling as a contributor.

The class of 2015 will be announced April 6 at Indianapolis. Enshrinement ceremonies will be Sept. 10-11 in Springfield, Mass.

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.